Te Akau Monday Update

David writes:

Firstly, congratulations to the Auckland Racing Club for putting on another great Derby Day at Ellerslie on Saturday!

Te Akau had five runners across three racing jurisdictions and all in black type races and we finished the day with two good second placings.

After winning the Derby last year with Gingernuts, we had to settle for second beaten by a nose.  We were in front a stride before and in front a stride past the line but a nose in behind the winner on the line.

Our Derby runner up Mongolianconqueror was purchased and syndicated by me.  I paid $130,000 for him at the Ready to Run sale.  I was thrilled a few days after the sale when Mr Wolf, the principal of Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Industry told me he would take a share.  We are very proud to have this great man's colours in our stable. We won't decide where we go next with the horse until the end of this week but one thing is pretty obvious, he has a very exciting future ahead of him.

Across the Tasman, poor Embellish just had no luck after getting a severe check in the straight.  To my eye he would have finished in the money, even [possibly have won, for certain had he got a clear run at them.

Anyway as always I say turn the page, our luck will change and hopefully next weekend when we will have the first two favourites in the Group One Diamond Stakes at Ellerslie.  Plus we have Age of Fire running in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas in Sydney so there is no time to feel disappointed.

Mark Walker had another winning weekend with another horse I purchased for Fortuna winning - Jack's Secret.  He cost only $25,000 and he has won over $100,000 in his Singapore career with something like 18 times in the money in 23 starts.

Mark had something of a very good but frustrating Sunday - in three races outside of his winning race, his horses ran second and third - just underlining how fit and prepared they are - tantalising close to a very big night indeed.

One horse I have been promoting lately is Lot 439 a Per Incanto filly out of Not A Jaffa (pictured below and main picture) - she is a very close relative to Group 1 winner Werther who was also a Horse of the Year in Hong Kong.  She is also very closely related to Group 3 New Zealand Cup winner Gobstopper and her other very close relation  Milseain was very impressive on Thursday finishing a good second in the Group 3 Lowland Stakes, her third stakes' placing.

I have just 20% available in this filly that I purchased for $290,000 plus GST.  This is one of the most beautiful fillies you will ever see.  She is extremely athletic and she moves herself as well as any horse I bought at the sales.  The amazing thing is that since the catalogue went to print, there have been such significant pedigree updates for this filly, she has top residual value for sure.

When I first saw this filly at the parade I turned to Jamie and said this is one horse we are not going home without and we were lucky enough to buy her under budget.  If she doesn't sell within 24 hours I am going to take the remaining share for myself.  In fact, Karyn has already taken a share and she has her eye on it too!

We have a very busy week coming up with fertiliser going on over the whole farm then next week we are selling the remaining two and a half year old bulls and steers - they have done enormously well in the last couple of months and we need to start making room for all the one and a half year old cattle that we have.

Have a great week and I look forward to seeing you at Ellerslie on Saturday for Auckland Cup Day.